European and Arab military officials convened in Paris on Thursday to deliberate on strategies to strengthen Lebanon’s understaffed armed forces. The talks come as anxiety mounts over a potential security vacuum in southern Lebanon, where the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) is scheduled to conclude its mandate at the end of the year.
The discussions are primarily aimed at laying the groundwork for a donor conference expected to take place in late 2026 or early 2027. Originally planned for February and led by France, Saudi Arabia, and the United States, the event was delayed due to the escalation of the Iran conflict and renewed hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah.
Lebanon’s military finds itself in a precarious position, sandwiched between the Israeli defense forces, which currently occupy significant portions of the south, and Hezbollah, an Iran-backed militant organization that has declined to disarm. With UNIFIL deploying approximately 7,500 personnel who will begin their drawdown in January, concerns regarding regional stability have intensified.
While both Beirut and Paris advocate for extending the UN peacekeeping mission, the United States and Israel have not indicated support for such a move. Consequently, officials in Paris are exploring alternative frameworks for international engagement. These include a non-UN multinational mission supported by France and Italy, as well as a potential European Union-led initiative.
Proposed operational models would concentrate on providing training, equipment, intelligence-sharing capabilities, and mentoring to the Lebanese Armed Forces. However, a French presidential source noted that the specific parameters of such a mission remain undefined. The source highlighted that Lebanese requests have not yet aligned with American demands at the Security Council and emphasized the need for clarity regarding the mandate and terms of presence.
Meanwhile, regional tensions continue to flare elsewhere. In Yemen, Saudi Arabia accused Houthi rebels of launching a drone strike toward Mecca, an attack Riyadh condemned as a violation of a “red line.” The Houthis disputed the claim, and Saudi air strikes were reported in response. Additionally, diplomatic ties between Israel and Morocco are set to be upgraded, with both nations agreeing to open embassies in each other’s capitals.
With UNIFIL leaving and no replacement plan, how is this not a recipe for disaster in the south?
I hope they actually deliver equipment, not just more promises. The Lebanese army has been underfunded for decades.